how do you set up good lighting
- Thread starter avery
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thats what everyones saying in need to work on, do i need pro lighting or just...lights....i heard flourecent lights dont work too well, so i wont use those, i just want to know how to set it up.tommysixtoes
Member
I don't know much about it other than to make sure you can see the important stuff in the shot, or not depending on the situation. All I can say is use some creativity with the lights but basically you want a key light to lightthe important stuff and a fill light to fill up the shadows a bit (not as bright as the key though). Use whatever is available, I like using those halogen work lights, and they are cheap. All lights are different colours , flourescents are green so be aware of mixing lights and the different colours of them) The more expensive lights I believe simulate daylight more closely. You can buy gels to put in front of lights to match the colours. Try to be consistent from shot to shot. Magic hour happens around sunset, the light is great then! Check it out!
thisiswells
Retired
ok, i'll jump in.
that's a really big question. you don't know anything about lighting? i don't believe it. you probably know a lot about the way things look. if you're going for the "natural" motivated look that is ever so popular these days, just try to mimic the world around you. watch how light falls on every day objects. on faces. in the morning. in the afternoon. in the middle of the night. what does moonlight look like? what colors remind you of spring? what colors remind you of a nightmare? see, lighting isn't hard. it's natural. but, it all starts with a goal. just putting a light on a stand and turning it on accomplishes nothing. there absolutely must be a plan, a goal, a reason you're putting that light there. sometimes you don't need any light to get something to look the way you want. sometimes you need a whole truck load. sometimes just a little light goes a long way. it all depends on what YOU want your shot to convey. remember, film should capture life (or death, or solitude, whatever), so start taking notes on what life looks like...
"The real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust.
that's a really big question. you don't know anything about lighting? i don't believe it. you probably know a lot about the way things look. if you're going for the "natural" motivated look that is ever so popular these days, just try to mimic the world around you. watch how light falls on every day objects. on faces. in the morning. in the afternoon. in the middle of the night. what does moonlight look like? what colors remind you of spring? what colors remind you of a nightmare? see, lighting isn't hard. it's natural. but, it all starts with a goal. just putting a light on a stand and turning it on accomplishes nothing. there absolutely must be a plan, a goal, a reason you're putting that light there. sometimes you don't need any light to get something to look the way you want. sometimes you need a whole truck load. sometimes just a little light goes a long way. it all depends on what YOU want your shot to convey. remember, film should capture life (or death, or solitude, whatever), so start taking notes on what life looks like...
"The real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust.
DV Warrior
Member
There are many good books on the subject of lighting and all the different styles and equipment. I'd recommend get a decent book with some pictures and diagrams to give you a base knowledge and then just experiment with different set ups to get experience with what works, what doesn't and what you like.
egproductions
Veteran
look into 3 point lighting (google it) and then you can change things up one you have your basic setup for diifrnt looks. One important thing to do with lighting , especially when you are shooting in darker situation is a little bit of back lighting. This will seperate the character form teh background so you video wont look like it has no depth. also look into ways to diffuse lighting so its more even and not so harsh
stephenlnoe
Well-known member
DVWarrior hit the nail on the head. Head down to the library and check out a book on lighting and try some of the textbooks examples. I like using reflectors wherever possible. There should be a section in any lighting textbook on reflectors as well as lighting.DV Warrior said:
good luck...
Sedonafilmer
Active member
Okay here is a crash course in how to light. There are 3 things that you should use
Key light, Back light, fill light
Fill light- Just blast the the shot with one big light (usually putting some diffusion to balance it out is good, your basically just putting light on everything)
Back light- Light the background (nuff said)
Key light- Put a small light on your actor or something you want to draw attention to. A key light should draw the audience attention.
And now that you know this set up...try everything else you can think of. Go to the Forum section on lighting for more. :thumbsup:
Key light, Back light, fill light
Fill light- Just blast the the shot with one big light (usually putting some diffusion to balance it out is good, your basically just putting light on everything)
Back light- Light the background (nuff said)
Key light- Put a small light on your actor or something you want to draw attention to. A key light should draw the audience attention.
And now that you know this set up...try everything else you can think of. Go to the Forum section on lighting for more. :thumbsup:
coolguy007
Active member
Ok, so i recently purchased a set of Arri Fresnel Tungsten lights, they are amazing, but before that i was in the same boat as you and using construction lights. The thing is lighting is an art form and really it is up to you on how you want to light your
movie. For instance in night shots, the industry standard is to have a blue tint on there lights, to do this just by dark blue gels and fit em' on your lights. Honestly though it does not really matter what gels you use to light night stuff, (if you plan on using gels at all) its up to you be creative, for all this independent filmmaking, you really just have to mess around, as others have said before, usually it is important to have a key, a fill, and a back. A note about gels, though, they are a pain in the ass if you do not have "film lights" when i say this i mean lights specifically for film, unlike my construction lights that i used to use, be careful though when using them because they easily melt and you may have to use more than one of them to get the sort of color you want, because they are very thin so if your shining light right through them, then the color may not be very tinted. Also another tip is to try bouncing light. Especially for night stuff this is a very important technique. You do not nesscarily need to have all the lights focused on the action, especially when lighting large rooms turn your lights around try bouncing light of the ceiling, it is a really good effect and technique.
movie. For instance in night shots, the industry standard is to have a blue tint on there lights, to do this just by dark blue gels and fit em' on your lights. Honestly though it does not really matter what gels you use to light night stuff, (if you plan on using gels at all) its up to you be creative, for all this independent filmmaking, you really just have to mess around, as others have said before, usually it is important to have a key, a fill, and a back. A note about gels, though, they are a pain in the ass if you do not have "film lights" when i say this i mean lights specifically for film, unlike my construction lights that i used to use, be careful though when using them because they easily melt and you may have to use more than one of them to get the sort of color you want, because they are very thin so if your shining light right through them, then the color may not be very tinted. Also another tip is to try bouncing light. Especially for night stuff this is a very important technique. You do not nesscarily need to have all the lights focused on the action, especially when lighting large rooms turn your lights around try bouncing light of the ceiling, it is a really good effect and technique.